Category: Addiction News

Marijuana Laws in California
ARTICLE OVERVIEW: This article outlines current marijuana laws, regulations, and penalties in the state of California. Your questions are welcomed at the end.

Table Of Contents:
Is Marijuana Legal?

Yes.

Marijuana is legal for medical and recreational use in California. The Adult Use of Marijuana Act,or Proposition 64, legalized recreational use of cannabis in November 2016 to anyone over the age of 21. The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 legalized medical use of marijuana to those over 18 with a proper medical card. Both of these acts continue to be in effect.

However, it’s important to remember lawmakers are still trying to figure out how to make legal cannabis work.

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In fact, legalization a new concept to the country as a whole; many laws are constantly changing.The truth is the state is still figuring out the logistics. For example, it was recently reported that a law is currently in the works to expunge prior convictions or decrease ongoing sentences for prior marijuana charges. [1] The law isn’t yet in effect as the bill still requires a signature from Governor Jerry Brown. You can follow updates concerning this issue here:

In addition, there have been struggles regulating cannabis business. In July 2018, new standards were set for labels, packaging, and distribution. [2] When this law was enacted, legal marijuana stores had to get rid of their entire supply and wait for a new one to come in. This was a big hit to people who were purchasing cannabis regularly and, in turn, caused a flood back into the illicit market.

Marijuana Laws in California

In terms of the laws set under the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, the state allows the following:
- For cannabis to be consumed in a private location.
- For people to hold a maximum of 28.5 grams, or about an ounce.
- For people to hold up to 8 grams of concentrates.
- For people to cultivate up to 6 plants per residency.
What the state doesn’t allow is the following:
- Consumption of cannabis in public.
- Manufacture without licensing.
- Operation of a vehicle while under the influence.
- Smoking or ingesting cannabis while you’re a passenger in a vehicle.
- Possessing, ingesting, or smoking marijuana within 1,000 feet of a daycare, school, or youth center while children are present.
It should be noted, though marijuana is legal in the entire state of California, only 18 of 58 counties in the state allow legal marijuana businesses and cultivations on a business scale. Therefore, those who reside in the other 40 counties run much higher risks as marijuana is only obtainable through illegal means.

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Furthermore, since cannabis remains illegal on a federal level, you aren’t allowed to travel from California with marijuana through state lines. So, marijuana possession can be charged as a crime if you leave the state unless the state you enter directly has legalized cannabis as well, such as Oregon or Nevada.

Penalties

There are regulations that serve as the backbone to marijuana laws and are meant to keep people safe and responsible when consuming. Furthermore, legality doesn’t mean the drug is safe. Just like alcohol, marijuana comes with side effects which are often overlooked. Here you can find a list of possession penalties, but keep in mind the regulations are subject to change.

1. Possession penalties

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1.1. Possession of up to one ounce (28.5 grams) of cannabis or 8 grams of concentrate

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1.2 Possession of more than one ounce (28.5 grams) of cannabis or 8 grams of concentrate.

1.3 Possession of up to one ounce (28.5 grams) of cannabis or 8 grams of concentrate upon the grounds of, or within, any school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1-12, inclusive, during the hours the school is open for classes or school-related programs

1.4 Possessing, smoking, or ingesting cannabis or cannabis products in or upon the grounds of a school, day care center, or youth center while children are present.

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1.5 Possession of cannabis for sale

1.6 Possession of an open container or package of cannabis or cannabis products while driving, operating, or riding as a passenger in a motor vehicle, boat, aircraft or other vehicle used for transportation.

Marijuana DUI

Driving under the influence laws for marijuana work very similar to DUI alcohol laws. The only difference is law enforcement measures alcohol through blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, whereas they have no way of measuring a cannabis high. Therefore, having any amount of cannabis in your system can result in a DUI as the result of marijuana consumption.

NOTE HERE: Sometimes, house arrest or work programs are alternate sentences for jail time. Additionally, you might be a candidate for drug court and seek alternate sentencing in the state.The penalties for DUI of marijuana offenses in the State of California are as follows [3]:

1st-Time Offender
- A fine between $390 and $1,000.
- Jail time of anywhere between 48 hours and 6 months.
- License suspension of up to 6 months.
- 3 month DUI school or 30 hours of classes.
- Up to 3 years of probation.
2nd-Time Offender
- A fine between $390 and $1,000.
- Jail time of anywhere between 96 hours to 1 year.
- License suspension of up to 2 years.
- 18 to 30 months of DUI school.
- Up to 3 years of probation.
3rd-Time Offender
- A fine between $390 and $1,000.
- Jail time of anywhere between 120 days to 1 year.
- License suspension of anywhere between 1 to 3 years.
- 30 months of DUI school.
- 3 to 5 years of informal probation.
These penalties become more severe if your DUI results in someone else’s injury. Depending on the situation, you could be charged with a felony which results in a fine upwards of $5,000 and/or risk 16 months to 4 years in prison.If your DUI caused a fatality, you will be prosecuted under vehicular manslaughter or other of the state’s murder laws. Even if the death was a result of an accident. This can lead you into a 15-year to life prison sentence.

Views on Marijuana

As discussed, there are 40 counties within California which consider it illegal to run a marijuana business or cultivation. With this in mind, we begin to see that the whole state doesn’t have the open opinion to cannabis as we might expect.

For example, just because marijuana is legal doesn’t mean employers want to see it show up on adrug test. In fact, depending on the company, your cannabis consumption might cost you a job. This isn’t the case for every job. Some companies will allow you to use weed as long as you don’t get high on the job. But any job that requires operation of machinery can legally require clean drug tests.

Another example, just as with alcohol, parents who consume cannabis are at risk when it comes to child custody laws. It all depends on the situation your case finds itself in. If a judge or jury finds your child or children are at risk due to your marijuana use, police records will be sought out from the following:
- Law enforcement agencies
- Medical facilities
- Social welfare agencies
- Third-party eye-witness(es)
The court has a right to do this under California Family Code 3011. Furthermore, they have the right to drug test you if they’re suspicious of your child’s safety. At the end of the day, courts are looking out for your children and their well-being. Their two main concerns when it comes to cannabis consumption are:
1. The harm caused to parents due to drug exposure.
2. The harm caused to children due to drug exposure.
With all this in mind, it’s understandable that not everyone has the same views when it comes to cannabis. Just because it’s legal doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed specific rights. It’s important to look into these matters before deciding to recreationally consume.

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Yes! Contrast to popular belief, marijuana has addictive qualities. Due to the fact that THC – the chemical in cannabis which gets you high – is psychoactive, people will feel physical addiction symptoms and more dominant mental addiction symptoms.

How do you know if you’re addicted, or not?

To begin, you can look at the physical signs. Not everyone who consumes cannabis will have these traits as the drug effects everyone differently. Furthermore, it’s unlikely someone will be addicted to cannabis if they smoke on rare occasions, such as once every few months. Chronic, daily users begin to manifest some of the following signs:
- Aggression
- Cravings
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Difficulty sleeping
- Loss of appetite
- Raise in body temperature
- Restlessness
- Sweating
Most of marijuana’s addictive qualities take place within the brain. Its psychoactive factors are very similar to other hallucinogens such as LSD due to the fact that it heavily affects emotions and mentality. The risks include:
- Anger
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Difficulty concentrating
- Irritability
- Mood changes
Though the short-term effects have their consequences, long-term cannabis use brings much greater risks. [5] Especially, when marijuana consumption starts at a younger age.

In a study done in New Zealand, it was found that tenacious marijuana use from adolescence to adulthood showed a loss of 6 to 8 IQ points. The study found that those who smoked during adolescence then quit upon becoming an adult never regained those loss IQ points. However, those who didn’t smoke during adolescence but started a persistent habit during adulthood never lost said IQ points.

Regular marijuana also has a tendency to bring upon withdrawal symptoms that can last for weeks. This is when the body and brain react to a lack of THC and improperly function without the chemical. Though cannabis withdrawal symptoms aren’t as strong as other drug withdrawals, such as heroin, they are real. So, if you are dependent on marijuana, you can experience the following when you try to quit:
- Abdominal cramps
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Chills
- Cravings
- Headaches
- Irritability
- Lack of concentration
- Lack of focus
- Loss of appetite
- Mild depression
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Restlessness
- Sleep disorders
- Sweating
- Weight loss
If you or anyone you love is currently struggling with a marijuana addiction, there are available resources to help you. Feel free to give us a call. Our hotline operators are ready to talk with you about medical treatment options.

Marijuana Treatment

Luckily, there are options available for marijuana treatment. It works a bit differently compared to other drugs considering the psychological implications of the addiction. Cannabis addiction treatment works in the following 5 steps.

1. Medical Assessment

When you enter a reputable rehabilitation facility, you’ll be given a medical assessment as a means of determining the best course of treatment for you. This usually includes drug tests, interviews, and a full medical and family history.

2. Detox

Not everyone who enters rehabilitation for marijuana treatment will required to go through detox. It can be helpful to certain individuals – especially those who chronically smoke or for those using other drugs in combination with weed – but it isn’t necessary for everyone. During detox, you’ll receive professional assistance in “weening” off the drug through monitoring of your health and aid in relieving certain symptoms.

3. Psychological Treatments

Talk therapy is the most important aspect of marijuana treatment. During rehab, you’ll learn how to get through day-to-day life without the use of cannabis. This is done through a change in thoughts, patterns, and beliefs. Once you identify your unique thought processes, counselors can help provide you with alternative ways of thinking and behaving without marijuana.

4. Educational Sessions

After or during psychological treatment, you’ll be enrolled in educational sessions which teach you about addiction. This is vital as those who are addicted tend to not be aware as to how addiction affects them.

5. Supportive Services

Within reputable treatment facilities, supportive services are offered. These include vocational training, housing assistance, financial assistance, legal assistance, and medical assistance. Just as with detox, not everyone will need this part of treatment. However, it’s there for those who can benefit from it.

Your Questions

Still have questions?

Wondering if you need to quit?

If you have further questions about marijuana laws or marijuana addiction treatment, we invite you to ask them below. If you have any further insight or advice for people, we’d also love to hear from you. We try to reply to each comment in a prompt and personal manner.

Reference Sources:[1] NPR: California law would expunge many marijuana related crimes
[2] Cannabis Regulations in California State
[3] DUI penalties for California
[4] SHRM: Can CA Employers Still Test for Marijuana?
[5] NIDA: What are Marijuana’s Long Term Effects on the Brain?

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View the original article at addictionblog.org
26 March 2019
Sober Living Options in Mississippi
ARTICLE OVERVIEW: A sober living home provides a supportive drug-free environment. But where do you start to look for housing? We review your sober living options in Mississippi and state regulations that support your recovery here.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Federal and State Laws

Sober living is supportive housing for people in addiction recovery. The purpose of a sober living home is to provide a support system and a drug and alcohol-free environment. The overall goal is to create a bridge between treatment and everyday life. The idea is that the transition to real life can be smoother … this helps prevents relapse.

In order to best understand your rights, it helps to know some basic federal and state laws. There are two federal laws which pertain to sober living homes. They are:

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1. The American with Disabilities Act, the ADA

This law states that “reasonable accommodations” must be created for those with disabilities (this includes those struggling with drug addiction and mental health) either through the state, city, or the homeowner.

2. The Fair Housing Act , the FHA

This law states that anyone who actively seeks out recovery housing will not be discriminated against based on national origin, religion, gender, family status, or disability. Disability includes those recovering from both mental health problems and substance abuse.

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When it comes to specific laws within Mississippi concerning sober living options, the laws vary from county to county. Even more so, from town to town. For example, in the city of Waveland, you need proper zoning ordinances – especially within single-family neighborhood zoning districts – to propose a sober living home [1]. In other cities throughout Mississippi, there are similar measures which need to be taken under a regulation known as “Adult Care Home” [2]. Additionally, specific licensing is required in order to have a sober living home in Mississippi (see below).

Sober Living in Mississippi

It’s important to note that you don’t need to be leaving a treatment facility in order to enter most sober homes in Mississippi. Most people are eligible to join a drug-free community in the state. As long as you pay the rent and follow the house rules, you’ll be accepted.

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The purpose of this living situation is to help you develop self-discipline and works towards living drug-free on your own.

If you believe you’d like to get involved in a sober living home, you’re going to need the right attitude. Since Mississippi’s law has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugs, many sober living homes also have strict guidelines. [3] You must be committed to recovering from drug addiction in order to make the most of your experience there. If you’re interested in finding a sober living home within Mississippi, see below for more details.

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Halfway and ¾ Houses

As you search for sober living homes, you’re going to come across homes which identify as either a halfway or ¾ house. It should be noted, there are a number of halfway and ¾ houses which are government-funded. [4] While this isn’t always the case, you may be housing with people who are ordered to be there by the court.

The biggest difference is that halfway houses may require that you’ve completed OR are actively enrolled in rehab. Plus, most people stay at a halfway house for no more than 12 months.

However, there is no official limit set to how long you’re allowed to stay. Since it’s in everyone’s best interest to allow you to transition when you’re ready, you’re allowed to maintain residency until you feel disciplined enough to stay sober in the real world.

When entering a halfway house or ¾ house, you should know there’s less supervision in comparison to a treatment facility. The idea is for you to learn how to discipline yourself while surrounded by a supportive, drug-free environment. This means you’ll have to start seeking out work and get into a schedule you can commit to when you leave the sober living home.

Still, there will still be some supervision, for sure. For example, you’ll be required to submit to random drug tests from time to time. If you fail a drug test, you’ll be asked to leave the home.

House Rules

Each sober living house will come with its own set of rules. In order to get a sense of the particular rules in terms of your sober living home, you’ll want to speak to your landlord.

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In the state of Mississippi, there are common rules which span across ALL sober living homes. It’s important to remember that the state has a zero-tolerance drug policy. So, house rules regarding drug use and possession must be followed strictly.

Mississippi sober living rules often include:

1. No alcohol or drug possession or use is allowed on and off premises. In order to make sure this rule is followed, you may be subjected to take frequent drug tests often at random and, if you refuse to take or fail one, you’ll be automatically discharged.

2. To be 100% drug-free, some residences don’t allow certain types of mouth wash or cooking ingredients, such as vanilla.

3. There will be regular meetings scheduled which you MUST attend. These meetings are made to check in with everyone and work through emotional difficulties anyone may be facing. You’ll also be assigned chores and, if you have any questions concerning the sober living home, you’ll receive answers.

4. There will be a curfew. You’ll need to meet curfew or face warning and then removal. This rule may be waived if a resident has certain commitments to responsibilities such as work or school. However, it’s only waived if the resident has been there long enough. Furthermore, you can expect to receive a drug test if you’re waived from the curfew.

5. A bathroom schedule may be set in place in order to accommodate with everyone. This means you’ll be assigned certain times to shower or other necessities, such as brushing your teeth.

6. You’ll be assigned chores which include cleaning or prepping meals.

7. You’ll have your own personal treatment goals. Most sober living homes require residents to develop a plan and meet with a staff member on the development of this plan. The goal is to evaluate your progress towards this plan over time.

8. Most sober living homes require you to be active in a 12-step meeting. Some will provide you with these meetings within the home itself, while others will ask you go out to the community and become involved with one.

9. Any cigarette smoking or vaping must take place in a designated smoking location.

10. You cannot have sexual contact of any kind with another resident.

11. You will be penalized for stealing from the house or destroying the property. You’ll also face 12. consequences for engaging in violent activity.

12. Rent and other fees must be paid on time.

13. No pets allowed, although some sober living homes allow for self-help pets.

14. No gambling.

These rules will be strictly enforced, but for good reason: to get your body and brain in the right rhythm for the real world.

What Sober Living is Really Like

Sober living is like dormitory style housing with strangers who are on a similar path to recovery. You’ll live with people of the same gender and get to know them really well. You go to sleep and wake up at the same time. Often, you’ll share meals together. And you might even go to group therapy with your roommates or housemates.

A sober living home provides you with a set of rules but and a rigorous schedule. Though there are many difficulties when residing in a sober living home, there are many more positive outcomes. You’ll learn to develop new habits and hobbies which can help you beat drug addiction for good. [5]

Upon entering a sober living home, you can expect to continue making the change you started in treatment. The change of living a sober, drug-free life. And you can expect to learn to do so through such the guidelines and expectations of the sober living home. If things ever become too difficult, you’ll be surrounded with supportive people, many of who are in the same boat as you.

Day-to-Day Life

The day-to-day life in a sober living home varies from house to house. Just as with the house rules, no two homes work equally and, therefore, you’ll want to ask your landlord to learn more about what to expect on a day-to-day basis.

EARLY MORNING: Upon waking up in the morning, you will have to complete one or more chores you’ve been assigned. This can include anything from cleaning to preparing breakfast. You’ll want to make sure you’re always on top of your chores and be aware if any new ones are added to your list.

LATE MORNING: As the morning comes to an end, you’ll be expected to go to work. If you don’t have a job, then you’ll be required to actively seek one. Not only is this to make sure you can provide for your rent but also to get you in an active mindset. It’s been proven that activity such as a job is a key factor in preventing relapse [6].

AFTERNOON: You’ll probably spend the afternoon at work. But if you have a doctor’s appointment, counseling meeting, or community service to complete, you’ll also be expected to do so at this time.

EVENING: By the time you return home in the evening, you will find yourself in a self-help meeting – either as a group or on an individual basis. Afterward, you’ll have various social activities to participate in. The evening can also include a communal dinner.

As nighttime approaches, you’ll have the opportunity to indulge in some entertainment. This is YOUR TIME and you can do with it as you please – whether it’s watching a movie, listening to some music, or jotting down thoughts in a journal. The time is up to you! Most sober living homes will have a time for when lights go out. This tends to be around midnight.

Finding a Sober Living Home

There are a number ways to find a sober home in Mississippi. A quick Google search of your specific area will give you plenty of options alone. However, it’s important to make sure you discover a reputable sober living home which is just as concerned with your journey to sobriety as you are. In order to do so, you may want to look towards the following resources:

1. Non-profit organizations

The website ProjectKnow is a search engine for sober living homes within various states across the U.S. It’s a trustworthy source which features reputable homes for your convenience. You can view Mississippi Sober Homes or look to this non-profit for more info on Mississippi Transitional Housing. Throughout your search, you may be suggested the organization known as the National Alliance for Recovery Residents (NARR). It’s important to note the state of Mississippi is not currently an affiliate of this organization.

2. Oxford House

Oxford House is a self-run, self-supported recovery house program for individuals recovering from alcoholism and drug addiction. The program provides sober living homes which assure an alcohol and drug-free environment. Within most houses, you’ll find between 6 to 11 individuals – either all men or all women. There are even houses which accept women with children. For a list of Oxford Home vacancies, visit their website.

3. Request a Referral

Your rehab or addictions counselor may know of reputable sober living homes in your area. Ask for a referral. If you’d like more information, you’ll want to talk around. Make sure to do so BEFORE leaving the treatment facility as you’ll want to make sure there’s room in the sober living house the day your treatment ends.

Licensing

Are sober homes regulated in Mississippi?

No. Currently, there are no licensing regulations when it comes to running a sober living home in Mississippi. However, licensing laws are on the horizon.

Early last year, the Scottsdale Independent reported of many sober living homes are getting away without a license due to the fact they aren’t a “health care institution”. [7] Due to this, there talk about the necessity of a license in order to provide such accommodations to recovering people struggling with drug or alcohol addiction.

However, when it comes to zoning for a sober living home, certain licenses are required. [1] There are specific cities which require zoning ordinances within single-family residences in order to provide the accommodations of a sober living home. If you are seeking to start a sober living home, you’ll want to check out your local ordinances.

How to Report a Sober House

You may be suspicious of your sober living home committing a crime, fraud, or having improper management. If so, there’s a toll free hotlines available under the Mississippi Office of the Attorney General. [8] To report a sober house in Mississippi, call:

1-800-281-4418

You may also visit the official website for more information: http://www.ago.state.ms.us/

Your Questions

A sober living home is a great way to make sure you stay on track in recovery. It’s a bridge which helps you transition from addiction recovery back into everyday life. But to get into a sober living home is a big decision. And you may have more questions before you make such a commitment.

If so, we invite your questions in the comments section below. We also invite comments which provide more details on sober living homes in Mississippi. We try to reply to each legitimate question in a prompt and personal manner.

Reference Sources: [1] Zoning Ordinance of the City of Waveland, Mississippi: Ordinance #349
[2] City Council Report: Item 27
[3] Mississippi Department of Mental Health, Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Abuse: FY 2011 State Plan
[4] J Psychoactive Drugs: A Clean and Sober Place to Live: Philosophy, Structure, and Purported Therapeutic Factors in Sober Living Houses
[5] J Psychoactive Drugs: What Did We Learn from Our Study on Sober Living Houses and Where Do We Go From Here?
[6] Yale J Biol Med: Relapse prevention and the Five Rules of Recovery
[7] Scottsdale Independent: Scottsdale dips into sober home regulations through new spacing requirements
[8] USA.gov: State and Local Consumer Agencies in Mississippi

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View the original article at addictionblog.org
26 March 2019
How Harm Reductionists Keep the Faith

Morning to evening, nearly seven days a week, Karen and Michelle endure taxing commutes to bring harm reduction services to drug users in North Carolina’s hard-hit, rural areas.

It’s a bitterly cold afternoon in early March as Karen Lowe and I pick our way down the broken sidewalks of a semi-abandoned neighborhood in Statesville, North Carolina. All around us, squatter houses stretch for blocks. Every window is busted or boarded up. Thin, dirty mattresses lie on sunken porches and feral dogs scrounge in the trash-strewn yards for scraps. Some residents are huddled inside for warmth, though in most of these homes, there is no electricity.

The neighborhood is a depressing sight, but it’s hard to feel blue when you’re on outreach with Karen Lowe. Co-founder of the Olive Branch Ministry, a faith-based non-profit that brings harm reduction services to the seven foothill counties of North Carolina, Karen is the embodiment of love.

Harm Reduction in the Deep South

As I burrow into my thin jacket, Karen strolls down the middle of the street extending warm greetings to the few brave souls who venture outside. Though the pockets of her cargo pants are bursting with clean syringes, naloxone, and other supplies to prevent death and disease among people who use drugs, she doesn’t flaunt her wares.

“I just want people to see me,” she explains. “It’s about building trust. They know why I’m here. If they need something, they’ll come to me.”

As we walk, the 52-year-old fills me in on the colorful cast of characters who call this neighborhood home, including a man who claims he hasn’t bathed in a year and an old woman who pees on the sidewalk. Karen describes everyone with great affection.

“There is a certain kind of love that goes with being an untouchable,” she says. “And [the people of this community] have it. But it’s not allowed to grow.”

There certainly isn’t much growing in this neighborhood. Judging by the columned porches on every house and what looks like abandoned flower gardens, this was probably once a desirable place to live. But shifting economic winds have devastated entire cities in the South and Statesville is no exception.

A small inland city—population 26,000—Statesville boasts neither North Carolina’s green mountain range nor its sparkling coastline. It’s stranded in the flatland area of the state, mostly buried under strip malls and fast food restaurants. But despite so few bragging rights, Statesville embraces its Southern pride, describing itself on its website as “a city where fish is fried (as our Lord intended they be) and a bottle of Kraft French Dressing is good enough for anybody — so get over yourself.” Also true to its Southern roots, while Statesville has recently invested in a splash park and a $330,000 home for veterans (more than double the average price of a house in the area), the city has allowed this particular neighborhood, in which residents are almost all black, to fall into ruin. The only people who venture into this place are the churches who occasionally come evangelizing and of course, the police, who make neighborhoods like this one their second home.

But Karen brings cheer to this desolate area. Twelve years ago, she was homeless herself, struggling with mental illness and depression, and searching for both a literal and metaphorical place to set down roots. She found a surrogate family and a calling in a faith-based organization in Greensboro that provides services to people living with HIV. The community welcomed Karen with open arms and she became a regular at meetings, outreach events, and retreats, which she describes as “mad love and dealing with yourself, everybody crying and snotting.”

Not Your Typical Faith-Based Outreach Organization

Karen says she knew then that her life was about to change in remarkable ways. And was it ever. A couple years into her involvement with the faith community she met the love of her life, Michelle Mathis, a woman who shared her passion for helping people in need. Though they have the same heart for harm reduction, the pair is about as opposite as two people can be. Michelle exudes elegance with a powdered face and coiffed hair that somehow survive even in the god-awfullest North Carolina humidity. Her partner is more salt-of-the-earth.

“I did the make-up and heels thing when I was young…somebody should have stopped me,” Karen laughs.

The yin to the other’s yang, the two married in a private ceremony in 2009 where they exchanged olive branches instead of rings, thus creating what would become their joint life’s work, The Olive Branch Ministry.

Olive Branch is not your typical faith-based outreach organization—and not just because its founders are an interracial queer couple spreading the word of Jesus in the Deep South. True to the tenets of harm reduction, whose guiding philosophy is “meet people where they are at,” Karen and Michelle serve without pretense or expectation.

“We say faith is why we do [this work], but it’s not what we do,” Michelle explains to me over the phone. “If someone asks us to pray for them, we will pray for people…We take the message of harm reduction to faith communities…but we don’t evangelize.”

During afternoon outreach with Karen, she utters not a whisper about faith. And yet, if God’s love for others were perfume, you’d smell her coming from blocks away. Helping others comes as naturally to her as breathing. Several times during our conversation she offers to assist me personally with everything from community partnerships to my writing career, and after I mention casually I’ll be traveling abroad soon, she offers me money to buy a goat or chicken for a family in need.

Morning to evening, nearly seven days a week, Karen and Michelle endure taxing commutes to bring harm reduction services to drug users in North Carolina’s hard-hit, rural areas. They ask nothing in return for their services. In fact, they seem critical of faith-based groups who use community outreach programs as a carrot to boost membership.

“It’s hard to be trusted in a neighborhood like this [because people think] everyone wants to take them to church,” Karen explains, adding that this is why she maintains such a low-key presence on outreach. Instead of rolling up in a van stashed with free giveaways, she roams the streets where people can see her, offering nothing but a greeting unless she is asked.

The Intersection Between Faith Communities and Harm Reduction

The Olive Branch Ministry’s approach could serve as an example for how faith-based communities and harm reduction can work together. The relationship is not always harmonious: some in the faith community accuse harm reductionists of enabling drug use or not doing enough to discourage problematic behavior. Conversely, many harm reductionists criticize faith groups for the hypocrisy of claiming to serve “the least of these” while refusing to help drug users, who belong to one of the most stigmatized and marginalized of all groups. Even when faith-based organizations do offer assistance, some peddle a strict, abstinence-only agenda or approach outreach with an attitude that appears to place more importance on gathering lost souls into the flock than on addressing people’s immediate needs.

But despite the tenuous history between the groups, there is much cause for hope. Across the country, faith-based groups like The Olive Branch Ministry, Judson Memorial Church in New York City, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Arkansas, the national Interfaith Criminal Justice Coalition, and many more are forming active partnerships with harm reduction groups. Other organizations, including the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), United Church of Christ and National Council on Jewish Women have publicly proclaimed their support for harm reduction programs.

The relationship between the faith community and harm reduction shows promise and room for growth. Especially in the South where faith is so important and drug users have so few services, these alliances are critical to stem the tide of deaths and disease caused by an unregulated drug supply, draconian laws, lack of sterile equipment, dearth of adequate treatment, stigma, and misunderstanding about what causes drug use to become problematic for many people.

“I feel that faith communities in general think that harm reductionists are a bunch of left wing radicals,” says Michelle. “They think that we will come in and demand that the church hold drug user union meetings and do syringe exchange, but they don’t realize that we meet the congregation where they are…we figure out where they are comfortable and [decide] how to go from there.”

Harm reduction groups and faith communities need to work together rather than at cross-purposes in order to reach and help as many people as possible. It’s not always easy to find common ground; an olive branch is a good place to start.

View the original article at thefix.com

26 March 2019
Americans Are Unhappy And The Opioid Epidemic May Be A Factor

For the third straight year, the U.S. has dropped in the rankings of the World Happiness Report.

The United States is now the 19th happiest country on Earth, its ranking falling for the third consecutive year.

This is according to the most recent World Happiness Report, released on Wednesday (March 20) or the United Nations’ International Day of Happiness.

The Washington Post reports that the seventh annual report surveyed 156 different countries and took into account six factors: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, the freedom to make life choices, social support, generosity and perceptions of corruption.

The top 10 countries in the report were Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada and Austria.

“We finished 19th on the list behind Belgium,” Jimmy Kimmel said on his late night show. “The people who feel the need to put mayonnaise on their french fries are happier than we are. Cheer up, everybody.”

While the report doesn’t specify why each country ranked where it did, the authors of the report have speculated in a news release that substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic contributed to America’s ranking.

“This year’s report provides sobering evidence of how addictions are causing considerable unhappiness and depression in the U.S.,” said Jeffrey Sachs, a Columbia University professor and the author of the “Addiction and Unhappiness in America” section of the report.

“The compulsive pursuit of substance abuse and addictive behaviors is causing severe unhappiness. Government, business, and communities should use these indicators to set new policies aimed at overcoming these sources of unhappiness,” Sachs added.

Sachs also noted that the results of the report serve as building blocks for countries moving forward.

“The World Happiness Report, together with the Global Happiness and Policy Report offer the world’s governments and individuals the opportunity to rethink public policies as well as individual life choices, to raise happiness and wellbeing,” Sachs said. “We are in an era of rising tensions and negative emotions (as shown in Chapter 2) and these findings point to underlying challenges that need to be addressed.”

According to the news release, this year’s report specifically honed in on happiness and the community, taking into account how technology, social norms, conflict and government policies have played a role in shaping each country.

“The world is a rapidly changing place,” Professor John Helliwell, co-editor of the report, said in the news release. “How communities interact with each other whether in schools, workplaces, neighborhoods or on social media has profound effects on world happiness.”

View the original article at thefix.com

26 March 2019
IRS Rule May Target Drug Policy Reform Organization

Some expressed concerns that the rule was designed to hinder the growing presence of medical and recreational marijuana businesses.

An IRS rule adopted in January 2018 could be blocking drug policy reform and advocacy non-profits from receiving tax-exempt status, in what some are calling a violation of the First Amendment due to the fact that it would specifically target cannabis-related businesses.

In an IRS bulletin, the rule reads that “the Service will not issue a determination letter when the request concerns an organization whose purpose is directed to the improvement of business conditions of one or more lines of business relating to an activity involving controlled substances (within the meaning of Schedule I and II of the Controlled Substances Act) which is prohibited by Federal law regardless of its legality under the law of the state in which such activity is conducted.”

The “determination letter” refers to a confirmation of tax-exempt status that the IRS issues to eligible non-profits.

Multiple cannabis-focused publications, including Leafly and Cannabis Now, expressed concerns that this rule was designed to hinder the growing presence of medical and recreational marijuana businesses, noting that on a federal level, cannabis is still a Schedule I controlled substance.

California accountant Jerry Chin told Marijuana Business Daily in March 2018 that the IRS rule means “if your trade association’s main purpose is the advocacy of a Schedule I substance, then we’re going to deny your application for that fact alone.”

According to the publication, the New Jersey Cannabis Industry Association (NJCIA) was one of the first organizations to be denied tax-exempt status under this rule after it was announced while the association was in the middle of seeking this exemption.

“At the 11th hour, we were informed, ‘Sorry, there’s been a procedural rule change, we’re not giving these types of letters to your type of company,’” said NJCIA President Hugh O’Beirne. “And that happened within a week of when this procedural rule change was announced.”

The NJCIA’s stated mission is to advance the legalization of cannabis.

There were fears that existing cannabis-related non-profits, such as the National Cannabis Industry Association, would lose their status under this rule change. However, the NCIA appears to have retained non-profit status.

Jacob Sullum of Reason believes this rule could be a violation of the First Amendment, citing a 2015 D.C. Circuit case which ruled that the IRS “may not discriminate on the basis of viewpoint” in the administration of its tax code. This, however, was in reference to whether hate groups could receive tax-exempt status rather than those involved with controlled substances.

The IRS appeared to widely decline to comment on the new rule throughout 2018. As of January 2, 2019, the policy still stands.

View the original article at thefix.com

25 March 2019
Florida Ends Medical Marijuana Smoking Ban

“It’s a triumph owed to the relentless advocacy of Floridians who refused to be silenced,” said the state’s Agriculture Commissioner.

Nearly two years after the state approved a medical marijuana program, officials in Florida have made it possible for people to smoke medical marijuana by lifting a ban on selling marijuana buds in the state.

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill that removed the ban on Monday (March 18). He had been pushing for the legislature to pass such a law that would lift the ban, after a court in Florida ruled that prohibiting smokable medical marijuana violated the state’s constitution, which was amended to allow medical marijuana use.

“Over 70% of Florida voters approved medical marijuana in 2016,” DeSantis tweeted last Monday. “I thank my colleagues in the Legislature for working with me to ensure the will of the voters is upheld.”

Because of the change to state law, Florida will not appeal the court ruling, DeSantis said.

“Now that we have honored our duty to find a legislative solution, I have honored my commitment and filed a joint motion to dismiss the state’s appeal and to vacate the lower court decision which had held the prior law to be unconstitutional,” he tweeted.

Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a statement reported by CBS News that the removal of the ban was a victory for voters who had come out in favor of medical marijuana.

“It’s a triumph owed to the relentless advocacy of Floridians who refused to be silenced,” said Fried. “Our state must not disregard the voice of its people—when the people’s will is nullified by those with authority, liberty cannot survive.”

The law takes effect immediately, but in practice it will take time for the Florida health department to set standards for prescribing smokable marijuana, so there could be a delay for patients, CBS reported.

With the new law, medical marijuana patients who are older than 18 will be able to access 2.5 ounces of marijuana every 35 days.

Yet, by Thursday, at least one medical marijuana patient in Florida was able to purchase marijuana flower, according to Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve, the dispensary that made the first sale.

“Offering these whole flower products to our patients in their purest, most-effective form is something we—and patients—have been looking forward to since we opened the doors of the state’s first dispensary,” Rivers said in a statement, reported by The Orlando Sentinel.

Doug Dixon, 59, was the first patient to make a legal smokable marijuana purchase in the state.

“I didn’t know if I would ever see it in my time,” he said. “But it is good to see it. It is good to have the alternative. These pharmaceuticals are killing people. I have lost so many family members.’’

View the original article at thefix.com

25 March 2019
Veterans Affairs To Offer Ketamine-Based Nasal Spray For Depression Treatment

The recently approved drug is said to relieve symptoms of depression as well as suicidal ideation in a short timeframe.

Veterans Affairs officials are now allowing VA doctors to prescribe Spravato, a medically viable variation of ketamine, to service members who suffer from depression.

The drug has been known to beat some symptoms of depression extraordinarily quickly—taking just a few short days, or hours instead of weeks. Suicidal thoughts have been seen to dissipate in a timeframe as short as 40 minutes.

“That first skyrocket up was my first infusion,” said Matthew Ayo, a 23-year-old who underwent ketamine treatment. “I went from severe depression to no depression symptoms.”

Doctors will be able to prescribe Spravato only if at least two other antidepressants have been tried and failed to produce results.

“We’re pleased to be able to expand options for Veterans with depression who have not responded to other treatments,” said VA secretary Robert Wilkie.

Of the United States’ 20 million veterans, an estimated 14%—or 2.8 million veterans—are diagnosed with depression. Of those veterans, one-third to one-half may suffer from treatment-resistant depression, which is why it was so critical to find something new and fast.

“Controlled clinical trials that studied the safety and efficacy of this drug, along with careful review through the FDA’s drug approval process, including a robust discussion with our external advisory committees, were important in our decision to approve this treatment,” said Dr. Tiffany Farchione, acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Division of Psychiatry Products.

Spravato isn’t without side effects, however—including sedation, blood pressure spikes, and dissociation, including feeling paralysis or out-of-body sensations. Ironically, misuse may lead to suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Hence, the FDA approved the drug for VA prescriptions with restrictions.

Veterans approved for the treatment would use the nasal spray under medical supervision. Afterwards, medical staff would monitor the patient for two hours. The patient would have to return for two doses a week for the first month, and one dose every two or three weeks in the months following. To prevent potential misuse, there is no option for home treatment.

Ketamine’s new role is a far cry from its former life as “Special K,” an anesthetic that saw use on the dance floor as well as the battlefield. In the latter usage, military medical staff found that those prescribed with ketamine for pain also had fewer symptoms of PTSD.

View the original article at thefix.com

25 March 2019
Lena Dunham Praises "Sober Queens"

Dunham has been sober since May 2018.

Actress Lena Dunham, who has been sober since May 2018, went on Twitter to acknowledge the celebrities who had recently opened up about their sobriety.

“First Lala Kent and now Wendy Williams—so proud of all these strong sober queens,” Dunham wrote on Twitter. “It’s a bumpy path for us all, but admitting you need help is the beginning of true freedom. Sometimes it’s stronger to be weak for a moment.”

Last week, talk show host Williams announced that she is living in a sober home.

“For some time now, and even today and beyond, I have been living in a sober house,” she said on The Wendy Williams Show. “And you know, I’ve had a struggle with cocaine in my past and I never went to a place to get the treatment. I don’t know how, except God was sitting on my shoulder and I just stopped.”

Also this month, reality television star Lala Kent of Vanderpump Rules publicly said that she was in a 12-step program for alcoholism. She had previously mentioned that she was getting sober, but didn’t talk about having a substance use disorder.

“Five months ago, I came to the realization that I am an alcoholic, and I am now a friend of Bill W., which you will never know how much this program means to me [and] has given me new life,” Kent wrote on Instagram.

Dunham, writer and director of the HBO series Girls, is familiar with the struggles of early sobriety. She spoke on Dax Shepard’s podcast Armchair Expert in November about how she has been adjusting to life without anxiety meds. Initially, she said, the medications made her feel “like the person I was supposed to be.”

“I was having crazy anxiety and having to show up for things that I didn’t feel equipped to show up for. But I know I need to do it, and when I take a Klonopin, I can do it,” she said.

However, over time, she realized that her drug use was becoming problematic.

“It stopped being, ‘I take one when I fly,’ and it started being like, ‘I take one when I’m awake,’” she said at the time. “It stopped feeling like I had panic attacks and it started feeling like I was a living panic attack. During that time I was taking Klonopin, it wasn’t making it better but I just thought, ‘If I don’t take this, how much worse will it get?’”

At the time, she said her brain was still adjusting to its new normal.

“I still feel like my brain is recalibrating itself to experience anxiety,” she said. “I just feel, literally, on my knees grateful every day.”

View the original article at thefix.com

25 March 2019
Wendy Williams’ Husband: She’s Doing Well in Sober House

Television personality Wendy Williams has been living in a sober home, previously having struggled with cocaine.

Wendy Williams, host of The Wendy Williams Show, is doing well in the sober home where she’s currently staying, according to her husband, Kevin Hunter.

Williams recently revealed that she has been residing in a sober house on her show.

“For some time now, and even today and beyond, I have been living in a sober house,” she said. “You know I’ve had a struggle with cocaine in my past. I never went to a place to get the treatment. I don’t know how except God was sitting on my shoulder and I just stopped.”

She didn’t specify exactly what made her seek treatment at this time. But for those worried for her health—especially after she fainted on live TV during a Halloween episode—her husband had reassuring news.

“Wendy is doing well,” he said to Entertainment Tonight. “We’re doing well as a family. We are moving forward with working on her sobriety and doing the work to help others, not just ourselves. It is a family process. Anybody that has to deal with this knows this a family process… and we are dealing with it and moving forward.”

Williams described her daily routine to her audience.

“After I go to Pilates, I go to several meetings all around town… and I see my brothers and sisters caught up in their addiction and looking for help,” she said. “They don’t know I’m Wendy, they don’t care I’m Wendy.”

Her days also end the same.

“I am driven by my 24-hour sober coach back to the home that I live in, here in the tri-state with a bunch of smelly boys who have become my family,” she revealed. “We talk and read and talk and read and then I get bored with them. Doors locked by 10 p.m., lights out by 10 p.m., so I go to my room and stare at the ceiling and fall asleep.”

Williams recently took a two-month break from appearing on television to deal with thyroid complications that arose from her Graves’ disease, an autoimmune disorder.

View the original article at thefix.com

25 March 2019
How Suboxone Helped Me Until I Could Help Myself

I felt confident that I had no desire to use opioids again, not because the Suboxone had eliminated my cravings, but because I had changed my life. The pain I worked so hard to anesthetize with heroin had been addressed.

Suboxone, while often controversial among addiction treatment professionals and people in recovery, has moved to the forefront in discussions about opioid treatment. The recovery community has no shortage of naysayers insisting that medication-assisted treatment (with drugs such as Suboxone, buprenorphine, and methadone) is simply trading one addiction for another, characterizing it as heroin in legal form and just another way for the big pharma companies – who are already blamed for the initiation of the opioid epidemic – to pull in profits. But Suboxone is not an illicit street narcotic with fatal overdose rates surpassing even automobile accidents, it’s a life-saving tool that many experts insist is our best hope for the current public health emergency.

Medication-Assisted Treatment Is Effective, But Stigmatized

According to Dr. Gavin Bart, Director of the Division of Addiction Medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center and Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota, opioid addiction requires long-term management; behavioral interventions alone have extremely poor outcomes with more than 80% of patients returning to drug use.

“Extensive literature and systematic reviews show that maintenance treatment with either methadone or buprenorphine is associated with retention in treatment, reduction in illicit opiate use, decreased craving, and improved social function,” Bart writes. “Extensive research shows that each of the three available medications used to treat opiate addiction have superior treatment outcomes to non medication based therapies. Increased retention reduces mortality, improves social function, and is associated with decreased drug use and improved quality of life.”

Abstinence proponents may be skeptical about Bart’s research, but for me, it rings true. Reduction in illicit opiate use? Check. Decreased craving? Check. Improved social function and improved quality of life? Check, check. Abstinence-based treatment did not save my life. Medication-assisted treatment paired with specialized addiction therapy helped me save my own life.

As an active member of the recovery community, I am mostly outspoken and typically very candid, even when it comes to mortifying revelations. And even for me, Suboxone is a touchy subject. I am more comfortable discussing random substances I’ve injected than I am discussing how Suboxone was a key player in my opioid addiction treatment. I think my discomfort is a result of the negative rhetoric that surrounds the medication, and ironically enough its harshest critics are often other people in recovery. The prejudice against medication-assisted treatment is harmful, and even deadly when the negative discussion derails someone from seeking the help that, according to the evidence base, may give them the best chance of staying alive.

Is medication-based treatment the perfect fix to a horrific and increasingly deadly addiction? No. Suboxone has its burdens. I grappled with those too. When I first started taking Suboxone, I’d take it for a week and then relapse on heroin. I did that a handful of times before I was finally serious about getting clean.

My Suboxone Journey: From Relief to Frustration

My initial Suboxone dose was 8 mg buprenorphine with 2 mg naloxone. It was an orange strip with a tangy taste that I’d place under my tongue and wait while it dissolved into my bloodstream. Because I essentially switched directly from heroin to Suboxone (taking the first dose when I began experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms), I didn’t have to suffer the weeks-long detox that frequently triggered my repeated relapses.

Taking my daily dose of Suboxone was like a sigh of relief at the beginning: one more day that I didn’t have to suffer through withdrawal. But after a few years, the sighs of relief eventually turned into sighs of disdain. My once-considered reprieve from the consequences of my addiction was starting to feel like a rusty pair of shackles. I was sick of going to the doctor and refilling my prescription, I was sick of keeping this secret from everyone in my life, I was sick of being terrified to travel. This thing that had once made me feel normal now had me feeling like I was still, after so much time, tied to my painful past of addiction.

Nothing else in my life reminded me of my past. There were no remnants of my previous addict self. I didn’t associate with any of my old using friends, I hadn’t seen or spoken with any dealers in ages, I never even got pulled over for traffic stops. I didn’t look like a junkie anymore and I didn’t act like one either. I had nurtured and repaired the ties with my family, I had a loving, healthy relationship, and I was well on my way to getting a college degree. I had successfully restored myself to sanity, as good ol’ Bill would say.

Fear kept me stagnant, which didn’t feel fair. I had come so far and was nothing like the junkie I once was, but I still had this inevitable withdrawal from Suboxone hanging over my head. My one final detox. The big whopper. How would I go through with it? I was in school so I couldn’t miss two to four weeks of classes, and anytime a summer or winter break neared, I’d chicken out, despite telling myself it was time and trying to prepare for it. In the meantime, I’d slowly been cutting down. I went from the initial dose of 8 mg buprenorphine/2 mg naloxone strips to 4 mg/1 mg, and then even further to 2 mg/.5 mg.

Suboxone Withdrawal

I had no idea what to expect. Like many of us, I have some form of post-traumatic stress disorder from my time in active addiction, and a major part of that was the horrendous withdrawals. I was completely fixated on these impending withdrawal symptoms, and there was nothing I could do — I had to pay the debt.

I finally made the decision to go through with it. I made the appropriate arrangements and was prepared to suffer for a couple weeks minimum, several weeks or maybe even months maximum. I watched YouTube to try to ease my frazzled nerves, but the videos pacified my anxiety like a game of Russian Roulette. Do not watch YouTube. Some videos had people detoxing, drenched in sweat and sobbing into the camera and others had people after just a week saying, “Not so bad guys!”

The night before I took my final dose, which was a teeny tiny square cut from a buprenorphine 2 mg/naloxone .5 mg strip, I curled up into the fetal position, buried myself under my duvet and cried myself to sleep. I couldn’t believe I was about to enter junkie limbo after living as a functioning member of society for so long.

The first few days weren’t pleasant, but it was nothing like I’d experienced in the past. I couldn’t sleep, I tossed and turned, I had tingling chills and clammy sweats, general anxiety and a sense of unease. I once detoxed from a $100 a day heroin habit and it was like I was the star of an exorcism horror film; compared to withdrawals like that, this one wasn’t nearly as bad as I’d anticipated. I think spending so much time tapering down to as small a dose of suboxone as I could handle really paid off when it came time to detox.

Another big fear I had, mostly thanks to Google and YouTube, was post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS). After the initial detox, the last time I felt any symptoms I knew were directly related to my withdrawal was about a month and a half after day one. I had a mini-panic attack when Target was too crowded. I started pouring sweat, rushed to my car, and burst into tears. And after that, I’ve simply felt normal. That thing we all desperately want to feel: “normal.”

What If?

The detox was tough, it was emotionally taxing and physically draining. But I realized that it was the fear of the withdrawal that had me suffering the way I was. It was a fear of the symptoms and a fear of the unknown. I felt confident that I had no desire to use opioids again, not because the Suboxone had eliminated my cravings, but because I had changed my life. The pain I worked so hard to anesthetize with heroin had been addressed. I did deeply introspective work in therapy and I changed my social environment, all while using Suboxone. I built up my self-worth by investing in myself and investing in healthier relationships, things I never could have done while still using heroin. I fixed my broken coping mechanism, I knew how to handle stress and sadness. Yet, there was still this tiny sliver of me that wondered, “what if?”

What if it was all some magical mask that Suboxone created and none of this was reality and as soon as I stopped taking it I would revert to my old tormented life?

That is what prompted me to finally write this piece — realizing that regardless of the discomfort I feel discussing Suboxone, there are other people in recovery using medication-assisted treatment right now, scared to talk about it and scared to get off, experiencing the exact same fears that plagued me. Once I made the leap and decided to go ahead with my final detox, and then when it was complete, I felt free. Finally free. Not because Suboxone had me stuck, but because Suboxone helped me move past the hardest time of my life. This withdrawal was the final chapter to that saga and it was finally over — and I survived.

I closed the book, I’d won the war.

View the original article at thefix.com

25 March 2019